Fastener applying implement



June 6, 1939.

, L. G. BLUMENBAUM FASTENER APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed July 22, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l :ZZI-CEEZEZZ E 22 55. 223 253251,

Lieui'or: 20w wwfllam June 6, 1939. 1.. s. BLUMENBAUM FASTENER APPLYING IMPLEMENT :5 Sheets-Sheet? Filed July 22, 1937 I I I I V V III I Y illll V M9 fllzvwuhm @1910 .9.

June 6, 1939. LV 6. BLUMENBAUM FASTENER APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed July 22, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 1111111111,, 111,, [I'll/m;

Patented June 6, 193 9 PATENT OFFICE FASTENER APPLYING nmmmn'r Louis G. Blumenbaum. Warwick, B. 1., alsignor to Boston Wire Stiicher Company, Warwick, 1L 1., a corporation of Maine madman, 22,1031, sun: No. 154,991

I 11 This invention relates to fastener-applying implementsof the type in which the fasteners are supplied to a magazine at its end. and more particularly to an automatically-operated retainer for preventing ejectment of the fasteners when the magazine is opened.

One ofthe objects of the present invention is to provide an implement of the type" indicated having a novel form of fastener-retainer which is not liable to become inoperative from wear.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener-retainer of the type indicated having an extended face engageable with the fasteners to hold the latter by frictional contact thereon.

Another'object of the invention is to provide a retainer. of the type indicated which is yieldingly urged into frictional contact with the fasteners and actuated by the closing of the closure for the magazine to release the fasteners.

Still another objectof the invention is to provide a retainer of the type indicated which is of simple and compact construction, positive and efficient in performing its intended function and .one which is adapted for use over long periods of time without requiring repair or replacement.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of theinvention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a fastener-applying implement incorporating the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the I forward end of the magazine of the implement showing the fastener-retainer held by the magazine-closure free from engagement with the fasteners; ,4

'Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the retainer with its bottom face raised above the fasteners;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the magazine-gate or -closure raised to release. its latching means;

Fig. 5 is a transverse'sectional view on line 5'--5 of Fig. 4 showing the position of the retainerwhen the gate is raised;

' Fig. 6 Ba transverse sectional view on line 6-0 of Fig. 4 showing the construction of the magazine and the relationship; of the parts therein; T

Fig. 7 is 'a view similar to Figs. 2 and 4 showing the magazine-gate rocked about its pivot toward its open position with the retainer in frictional engagement with the fasteners;

held'in frictional contact with the fasteners; and

Fig. 10 is a detailed perspective view of the parts at the forward end of the magazine shown in disassembled relationship.

, The fastener-retaining means constituting the subject-matter of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as applied to an implement of the type shown and described in a copending application for United States Letters Patent of John Cavanagh, Serial No. 144,406, filed May 24, 1937. Such implements are employed for applying U-shaped staples to the ,work. but it is to be understood that the in- -vention may be used with other types of implements or with similar devices for applying other forms of fasteners.

The stapling implement as herein illustrated is of the type commonly known as a tacker for use in attaching labels, tags and the like to articles of commerce and for various other purposes. It comprises a hollow two-part casing 2 having an opening 3 at its lower front end and an opening 4 thereabove which serves as a fingergrip. The bottom of the casing 2 is closed by a U-shaped channel-member 5 having parallel side walls overlapping the sides of the casing and held in place by transverse bolts 6 and i, see Figs. 1 and 6. A hollow plunger 8 of rectangular shape in cross-section is mounted to reciprocate in the forward partof the hollow casing 2 and is connected toa blade-like staple-driver 9. The plunger 8 is normally held in raised position as illustrated in Fig. 1 by a pivoted latch iii. A compression spring I I is positioned in the hollow plunger 8 with its lower end bearing against the bottom of the plunger and its upper end against a follower l2 movable longitudinally thereof The follower I2 is adapted to be actuated by a lever l3 extending longitudinally within the easing 2. The lever I 3 is pivotally mounted at its rearward end on a pin l4 extending transversely of the casing 2, being connected at its forward end to the follower I2 by means of a pair of links IS. A hairpin-shaped spring l6 coiled about the ends of the pin I has its looped portion bearing against the under side of the lever I3 with its opposite bifurcated end bearing against the easing 2, thereby tending to rock the lever in a clockwise dlrection as viewed in Fig. 1. The lever I3 is adapted to be rocked in a counterclockwise direction by a manually-operated lever l'i pivoted at its forward end on trunnions 18 extending transversely of the casing 2. For this purpose the lever I! is connected to the. lever [3 by means of a bifurcated link 19. A yielding abutment 20 of any suitable construction extends transversely of the casing 2 below the bottom of the plunger 0 to serve as a bufler therefor.

A self-contained magazine unit is mounted in the hollow casing 2 and preferably it comprises a U-shaped trough-like member 25 having an inner iii) support or core 26 for the fasteners extending longitudinally therein, see Fig. 6. The member 25 has its bottom .seated on the bottom of the channel-member 5 and is held in place in the casing 2 by the bolts 6 and 1 which extend therethrough. The member 25 of themagazine terminates at the forward end of the channel-member 5 adjacent the edge of the bottom opening 3 in the casing 2. The inner fastener-support or core 26 is comprised of vertical spaced-apart plates which are suitably secured to the bottom of the member 25 and project forwardly beyond the end thereof into theopening 3 in the casing 2. The forwardly-projecting ends of the plates constituting the fastener-support or core 26 have offset depending flanges 21, see Fig. 10, which project downwardly to aline their bottom edges with the bottom of the member 5. inwardly-directed flanges 24 at the upper edges of the plates cooperate to form a bridge for supporting the crossbars of the fasteners when these are in the form of U-shapcd staples s. see Figs. 5 and 10. The depending flanges 21 are offset laterally of the sides of the support or core 26 and are provided with laterally-projecting lugs 28 employed for a purpose as later explained. The core 26 is adapted to support staples s straddled across its top and held in place thereon by the inwardly offset sides of the U-shaped member 25.

stanchions 29 and 36, formed integrally with the side walls of the U-shaped member 25, project upwardly and forwardly to overhang the forward end of the core 26. The opposite stanchions 29 and 36 are provided with alined vertical slots 3| and arcuate slots 32 therebelow. At their rearward ends the arcuate slots 32 merge into wider openings 33 to provide a clearance space for a purpose as hereinafter explained.

The forward end of the magazine may be provided with any suitable form of movable door or closure which, as herein illustrated, consists in a U-shaped gate 46. The gate 46 has side walls 4| and 42 which overlap the sides of the stanchions 29 and 36, and a front wall 43 adapted to cooperate with the end of the core 26 to form a throat 44 through which the staplesare driven. The gate 46 is pivotally mounted at the front of the casing by means of a pin 45 extending through the alined vertical slots 3| in the stanchions 29 and 36 with its ends projecting outwardly into inclined slots 46 in the side walls 4| and 42 of the gate. The lower edges of the side walls 4| and 42 of the gate 46 are formed with notches 41 which are adapted to engage with the lugs 28, previously referred to, on the forwardly-projecting end of the core 26 to releasably latch the gate in closed position. The

notches 41 are yieldingly held in latched engagement with the lugs 28 by a bowed spring 48 having one end hooked around the pivot-pin 45 and its opposite end anchored to the bottom of the abutment 26. The gate 46 is movable vertically on the stanchions 29 and 36 against the action of the.

spring 48 to release the notches 41 from latched engagement with the lugs 28, the vertical slots 3| in the stanchions permitting the pin 45 to move upwardly therein during the movement of the gate with respect to-the magazine. The gate 46 may then be rocked to its open position illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The lower end of the staple-driver 9 is guided by the forward edges of the stanchions 29 and 36 and the front wall 43 of the gate 46 when the latter is closed whereby to adapt the driver to be reciprocated in the throat 44. Staples s supported on the core 26 are slid forwardly in the magazine and fed successively into the throat 44 by means of a staple-pusher 49. The staplepusher 49 is of usual construction, being of inverted U-shape in crosssection to adapt it to ride on the core at the rear of the staples s with its sides sliding in the space between the sides of the core and the sides of the member 25. The staplepusher 49 is urged forwardly in the magazine by means of an elastic cord or spring 56 connected thereto at one end, see Fig. 1, and looped around a suitable post 5| with its opposite end anchored to 9. lug 52 on the bottom of the member 25.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a novel form of fastener-retainer 66 which is movable into frictional engagement with the staples s to dog thereagainst when the gate 46 is opened and movable out of engagement with the staples to release them when the gate is closed. Although the retainer 66 may take other forms, as herein illustrated it comprises a U-shaped member having side walls 6| and 62 and an extended bottom wall providing a friction face 63. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the friction face 63 has its opposite sides inclined inwardly and upwardly toward a central peak to adapt it for use with crowned staples, but it is to be understood that the friction face may have any desired contour to .conform to the shape of the heads of the staples or other fasteners.

The U-shaped retainer 66 is positioned between the stanchions 29 and 36 so that the friction face 63 overlies the core 26. Its side walls 6| and 62 are provided with alined holes 64, through which the pivot-pin 45 extends with a close fit to adapt the retainer for vertical movement with the pin. At the rear of the holes 64 the side walls 6| and 62 are, slotted at 65 to provide a clearance for the crossbolt 6 which passes therethrough. The side walls 6| and 62 are also provided with arcuate slots 66 of the same radius as the arcuate slots 32 in the stanchions 29 and 36, but of slightly greater width. The relative position of the slots 32 in the stanchions 29, 36 and the slots 66 in the retainer 66 is such that they register in both the closed and open position of the gate 46, see Figs. 2 and 8. A pin 6'! extends transversely through the arcuate slots 32 and 66 and has its ends secured in the side walls 4| and 42 of the gate 46, see Figs. 2 and 3. The swinging movement of the gate 46 on the stanchions 29 and 36 is thus controlled by the engagement of the pin 61 with the edges of the arcuate slots 32 and openings 33 and the diameter of the pin is preferably only slightly less than the width of the arcuate slots 32 to provide a close fit therein.

When the gate 46 is closed, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 3, the pin 61 is located in the openings 33 and the ends of the pivot-pin 45 bottom in the elongated slots 46 in the side walls 4| and 42 of the gate. The retainer 66 is then held suspended to release its friction face 63 from engagement with the staples s. When the gate is opened to the position illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 the pin 6'! slides in the arcuate slots 32 in the stanchions 29 and 36 which limit the gate to pivotal movement on the pin 45. The retainer 66 is then capable of vertical movement with respect to the gate 46 to engage its friction face 63 with the staples s, due to the relatively wide slots 66 in-the side walls 6| and 62 of the retainer which embrace the pin 6'! and the elongated slots 46 in the gate 46 which receive the ends of the pivot-pin 45. The retainer 66 is preferably constructed so that the forward edges 16 ,of its side walls 6| and 62 engage the rearward face of the staple-driver 9 to prevent tilting movementof the retainer; and with the forward and rearward ends II and 12 of the friction face 63 slightly curved upwardly to facilitate movement of the staples s thereunder. One embodiment of the invention having now been described in detail its mode of operation will be next explained.

To load the magazine with a refill of staples s the gate 49 is first lifted to release its notches 41 from latched engagement with the lugs 29 at the base of the casing 2 and then rocked on the pivotpinf45. During the initial upward movement of the gate 49 on the stanchions 29 and 30 the pivotpin 45 moves in the slots 3| andthe pin-6! moves in the clearance openings 33 at the rear of the illustrated inFig. 7. As the gate 40 is rocked on l0.thepivot, pin 45 the pin 61 engages the forward edges of the clearance openings 33 which control the forward movement of the gate, see Fig. 7. Before the gate 49 can be swung to its fully opened position illustrated in Fig. 8, the pin 81 .5 must be alined with the arcuate slots 32 in the stanchions 29 and 39 and the forward inclined edges ,of the openings 33 have the effect to cam the pin downwardly for this purpose while car-.

rying the gate 40 downwardly as shown in Fig. '7. When the gate 49 has been depressed in the manner as above explained to alinethe pin 61 with the arcuate slots 32 the staple-retainer 69 by sliding it rearwardly on the core against will be released to allow it to be depressed by the spring 48 acting on the pin 45 to engage its friction'face 53 with the heads or crossbars of the staples s- Due to the relatively wide slots 56 in the sidewalls SI and 62 of the retainer and the loose connection between the ends of the pivot pin 45 with the side walls 4| and 42 of the gate *the retainer is movable relatively of the gate under the action of the bowed spring 49 to" yieldingly hold the face 63in frictional contact with the staples s or with the pusher 49 when the latter has been moved forwardly beneath the retainer. The staples are thus automatically engaged by the retainer 69 to hold them by frictional contact when the gate 49 is position to be swungv to its open position. When the gate is rocked on the pivot-pin from v the position 'shownin Fig. 7 to that illustrated in Fig. 8, the

closefit of the pin 61 is the arcuate slots 32 in the stanchions 29 and 39 prevents vertical movement of the gate and pivot-pin 45 so that the retainer cannot bemoved upwardly to release the staples until the gate is again closed.-

After'the gate has been opened in the manner as last explained a refill stick of staples s may be inserted into' the magazine at its forward end the action of the pusher 49. During the vrearward movement of the stick of staples s the face 63 of the retainer is in frictional engagement therewith and the stick must be pushed rearwardly withsufficient force to overcome the friction. When the stick is manually released, however, I the friction caused by the face 63 bearing on the stapless is sufllcient to hold the staples against ejection from the magazine by the action 'of the pusher 49. After the magazine has been fully loaded the gate 40 is rocked on thepivot-pin 45 until thepin 61 is clear of the arcuateslots 32 in the stanchions 29 and 39 and located in the clearance openings. 33 at the rear of the arcuate slots.v The gate is-then in the position illustrated in Fig. 7 so that its front wall 43 will oppose any movement of the staples outwardly of the magazine. The rocking movement of the gate 40 is then continued to cause the lower curved rearward edges of its side walls 4| and 42 to ride over and engage the notches 41 with the lugs 28 to latch the gate in closed position. During the upward movement ofthe gate 40 the extended ends of the pivot-pin 45 bottom in the inclined slots 46 in the gate and the pin and retainer 60 connected thereto are lifted bodily against'the action of the spring 48 whereby to release the friction face 53'from engagement with the staples s. The staples s when released by the retainer 60 are then adapted to be fed forwardly in the magazine by the staple-pusher 49 to position the foremost staple of the stick in the throat 44.

The foremost staple in the throat 44 may be driven into the work by depressing the manuallyoperable lever i1. Rocking movement of the lever i1 is transmitted to the lever l3 through the link i 9 which, in turn, causes the follower i2 to be moved longitudinally downward in the plunger 8 to compress the spring ii. During the compression of the spring II the plunger 8 is held by thelatch l0 and thereafter the latch is actuated by the lever i3 adjacent the end of the stroke of the manually-operable lever i! to release the plunger. The plunger 8 when released by the latch I0 is actuated by the expansive force of the compressed spring II to slide the driver 9 down through the throat 44 with considerable force to drive the staple into the work. Upon release of the manually-operable lever H the spring it rocks the lever l3 to its uppermost position and thereby returns the follower i2 and plunger 8 to firstposition. At the upper limit of movement of the plunger 8 the latch I0 is automatically actuated to engage the under edge of the plunger to hold it in raised position. The staples are successively advanced into the throat 44 by the pusher 49 and driven into the work by the driver 9 through the actuation of the manually-operable lever i1. When the supply of staples s is exhausted, or if a staple becomes jammed in the throat 44, the gate 40 is again frictional engagement with the fasteners in the magazine whenthe gate is opened and released It will be noted that each from such engagement when the gate is closed.

I and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a fastener-applying implement of the type comprising a magazine provided with a movable closure to adapt fasteners to be supplied thereto, the combination with said magazine of a retainer having a substantially flat friction face engageable simultaneously with a plurality of adjacent fasteners in the magazine to retain them' against ejectment from the magazine when the closure is opened.

2. In a fastener-applying implement of the type comprising a magazine provided with a movable closure to adapt fasteners to be supplied thereto, the combination with said maga-.

zine of a retainer having a friction face, and means for mounting the retainer to slide bodily in a direction angularly related to the direction in which the fasteners are fed for engaging its friction .face with the fasteners to retain them in the magazine when the closure isopened.

3. In a fastener-applying implement of the type comprising a magazine provided with a movable closure to adapt fasteners to be supplied thereto, the combination with said magazine of a retainer having a friction face, means for mounting the retainer to slide bodily in a direction angularly related to the direction in which the fasteners are fed, means for yieldingly urging the retainer to engage its friction face simultaneously with a plurality of adjacent fasteners in the magazine, and means controlled by the closure for sliding the retainer against the action of the yielding means to release the fasteners.

4. In a device of the type indicated, a magazine, a movable closure for the magazine, means for advancing fasteners in the magazine, a retainer mounted to slide bodily in a direction angularly related to the direction in which the fasteners are fed in the magazine and having a flat friction face engageable simultaneously with a plurality of adjacent fasteners, and means controlled by the closure for sliding the retainer to engage its friction face with the fasteners when the closure is opened and to release the fasteners when the closure is closed.

5. In a device of the type indicated, a magazine, a movable closure for the magazine, means for-advancing fasteners in the magazine, a retainer mounted to slide bodily in a direction angularly related to the direction in which the fasteners are fed in the magazine and having a face engageable simultaneously with a plurality of adjacent fasteners, resilient means forbodily sliding the retainer to engage its face withthe fasteners to retain them by friction, and means controlled by the movement of the closure for actuating the retainer to release the fasteners.

6. In a device of the type indicated, a magazine for holding a supply of fasteners, a gate pivotally mounted on the magazine and cooperating therewith to form a throat through which the fasteners are driven, means for advancing the fasteners along the magazine and into the throat, a retainer above the magazine, means for mounting the retainer to slide bodily toward the fasteners in the magazine, means for yieldingly urging the retainer into frictional contact with the fasteners, and means for actuating the retainer during the closing movement of the gate to release the fasteners.

7. In a device of the type indicated, a magazine for holding a supply of fasteners, a gate pivotally mounted on the magazine, latching means for holding the gate in closed position on the magazine, said gate being movable vertically to engage and release the latching means, a retainer having a friction face overlying the fasteners and adapted to engage simultaneously with a plurality of adjacent fasteners, means for yieldingly urging the retainer into frictional contact with the fasteners, and means operative by the vertical movement of the gate to actuate the retainer to release the fasteners.

8. In a. device of the type indicated, a magazine for holding a. supply of fasteners, a gate pivotally mounted on the magazine, a retainer having a friction face overlying the fasteners and adapted, to engage simultaneously with a plurality of adjacent fasteners, means for yieldingly urging the retainer into contact with the fasteners, means connecting the gate and retainer, and cooperating means on the gate and magazine for controlling the movement of the gate whereby the retainer is engaged with the fasteners when the gate is opened and'released from the fasteners when the gate is closed.

9. In a device of the type indicated, a magazine for holding a supply of fasteners, a gate pivotally mounted on the magazine, cooperating means on the gate and magazine for latching the gate in closed position, said gate being vertically movable to release it from latched engagement with the magazine, a retainer having a friction face engageable with the fasteners, a spring for yieldingly urging the retainer into frictional con tact with the fasteners, means on the magazine for restraining the gate from vertical movement after it has been unlatched, and means connecting the gate and retainer whereby to move the latter vertically with the gate when the latter is raised to engage the latching means.

10. In a device of the type indicated, a magazine for holding a supply of fasteners, stanchions at the forward end of the magazine, a gate pivotally mounted on the stanchions and bodily movable vertically thereof, said gate cooperating with the end of the magazine to form a throat through which the fasteners are driven, means for advancing the fasteners along the magazine and into the throat, a U-shaped retainer positioned between the stanchions with its bottom face overlying the fasteners, a pin connecting the gate and retainer whereby the latter is moved vertically with the gate, and a spring engaging the pin to urge thev retainer into engagement with the fasteners, said retainer being moved to release the fasteners by the movement of the gate to closed position.

11. In a device of the type indicated, a magazine for holding a supply of fasteners, stanchions at the forward end of the magazine having arcuate slots, a gate pivotally mounted on the stanchions and bodily movable vertically thereof, said gate cooperating with the end of the magazine to form a throat through which the fasteners are driven, means for advancing the fasteners along the magazine and into the throat, a transverse pin connected to the gate and extending through the arcuate slots in the stanchions, a U-shaped, retainer positioned between the stanchions with its bottom face overlying the fasteners, said retainer having slots through which the pin extends, a pivot-pin connecting the gate and retainer whereby the latter is moved vertically with the gate, and a spring engaging the pivot-pin to urge the retainer into engagement with the fasteners, said first-named pin cooperating with. the arcuate slots in the stanchions whereby to engage the retainer withthe fasteners when the gate is opened and to release the fasteners when the gate is closed.

LOUIS G. BLUMENBAUM.

'Ill 

